ASTHMA & COPD NCLEX Questions (& ANSWERS)

1. A 7-year-old client is brought to the E.R. He’s tachypneic and afebrile and has a respiratory rate of 36 breaths/minute and a nonproductive cough. He recently had a cold. From his history, the client may have which of the following? • Acute asthma • Bronchial pneumonia • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) • Emphysema Based on the client’s history and symptoms, acute asthma is the most likely diagnosis. He’s unlikely to have bronchial pneumonia without a productive cough and fever and he’s too young to have developed COPD or emphysema. 2. Which of the following assessment findings would help confirm a diagnosis of asthma in a client suspected of having the disorder? • Circumoral cyanosis • Increased forced expiratory volume • Inspiratory and expiratory wheezing • Normal breath sounds Inspiratory and expiratory wheezes are typical findings in asthma. Circumoral cyanosis may be present in extreme cases of respiratory distress. The nurse would expect the client to have a decreased forced expiratory volume because asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disease. Breath sounds will be “tight” sounding or markedly decreased; they won’t be normal.